Hi FT,

I need an aisle seat when I fly as I go to the toilet quite a lot (not a medical thing) - record was PER - BNE nine times. However, due to the Qantas fare class to seat algorithm, I've had pretty much no luck getting an aisle seat, even when I request one through 'Manage My Booking'. I have no status and am not a Qantas Club member.

I can't usually change my seat through online check-in because the flights I take are usually full - only middle seats available.

I'm going to start flying PER - MEL frequently sometime this year and would like to know what days of the week and what times of day are the quietest, historically, on this route, so I can maximise my chances of getting an emptier flight and therefore a prized aisle seat!

I hope someone can help.
inuvik

PER is booming and I know some people that commute MEL-PER several times per month. I've only flown it once, and every seat was taken on that flight. My impression is that PER-ADL would have more empty seats, so maybe try routing PER-ADL-MEL instead as the nonstop flights look to be full.

Thanks. Any ideas on days and times for that route for the emptiest flights?

As an aside, does anyone have some general guidelines for scoring an aisle seat with no status?

Try booking on DJ. I have no DJ status but have always had success at getting an aisle seat when OLCI opens up and I can get that valuable seat almost anywhere except for the front half dozen rows. Their (DJ's) option to purchase an exit row seat may also be preferable to the risk of not getting the aisle seat.

If you are flying that often why not consider investing in a Qantas Club membership?
There are discount corporate deals available on AFF.

Heh, when I mean 'frequently', I mean frequently for me, which might be once every two months

I have always had success getting an aisle seat with DJ, and this is likely the only reason I would choose them at the moment, aside from price. Qantas just appears to be superior at present in terms of food offering, baggage allowance (especially excess baggage) and frequent flyer redemptions.

have you noted Aisle as your preference on you QF membership? ALso on booking, addidtional requests (from memory) aisle will both increase your chances of getting one.

Suppose it really depends on the highest priority. If getting up 9 times, I'd regards the aisle seat first and everything follows after that

Not only that - I'd also consider the fact that I wouldn't want to be caught (excuse the pun!) on an aisle seat but blocked in by trolleys on a single-aisle aircraft. If you *do* have the possibility of choosing your seat at purchase, I'd make sure that I choose one toward the back of the aircraft ... but be mindful with DJ that you need to make allowance for the substitution of the -700 over the -800, so don't pick the last row aisle.

BD

I am no doctor but 9 times in 5 hours is something I would get checked.

You will find that all QF flights to SYD/ BNE/ MEL and ADL are heavily booked with status based FF PAX. My last op-up was actually ex ADL to PER due to loads.

Why not try Jetstar where you can pre-allocate a seat?

I go to the toilet quite a lot (not a medical thing) - record was PER - BNE nine times.

Actually that kind of does sound like a medical thing...unless you drink A LOT of liquids while flying.

For the MEL-PER sector the early flight (QF775) usually has light, sometimes very light loads.

Oh, yes - I do drink a lot of fluid when I fly (as my nose tends to get pretty dry like everyone else's), so that's another reason I prefer QF - free water.

Anyway, thanks for the suggestions everyone - I have put an aisle preference in my QF membership and will see how things go over the next few months. I don't know why, but I always seem to get a middle seat right at the back :P

You could always try drinking less and using a nasal spray. There are a few brands available in most chemists to assist,